There's no such thing as backing up digital information too much, or too often. A solid, well-thought-out backup plan can mean the difference between a normal day and a major disaster in the form of lost business data, financial and legal information, family photos and videos, and a great deal of time and money trying to recover data and get caught up.
Anyone with a PDA, computer or other data-storing device should have a regular, comprehensive backup plan, and the technology to sustain it. Good plans combine complementary technologies to automatically save data in several different places. The following backup technologies can be coordinated to provide reliable, convenient backups - and peace of mind.
Hard Drives - Pros and Cons
Extra hard drives -- especially portable ones -- make great backup solutions for most households and small businesses. A single hard drive can store more than 400 gigabytes of data - at least 10 times the space most people use within the lifespan of the drive. Therefore, many backups of entire hard drives can be stored in one place. But hard drives are made of moving parts, which at some point or another will fail, whether due to mechanical malfunction, damage or age.
By using several smaller drives instead of one big one, data is replicated several times on separate devices to prevent data loss. This is accomplished with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, where multiple hard drives are grouped together so the computer sees them as one. RAID controllers are bought separately to manage the array. RAID software makes backing up data automatic and easy to access.
Networking computers is another way to put hard drives to good use. With small business networks or home networks, multiple computers can be backed up onto a hard drive or drives, even at the same time.
Making sure important information is stored on separate hard drives may seem like a sufficient backup system, but one lightning strike, power surge, flood or fire could wipe out all hard drives and backups at one physical location. So it is always best to combine hard drives with other backup solutions that can store data in remote places.
Flash Drives - Pros and Cons
Although they are handy for storing and transporting important files, flash drives (also known as thumb drives or jump drives) are limited in capacity and generally considered to be less robust compared to hard drives. They are intended to complement a hard drive rather than replace one.
These small, hand-held storage devices do not contain moving parts, so are less likely to suffer mechanical failure. However, they are much easier to misplace, damage or erase. In addition, regular backups require that they be connected to the computer at the right time, cutting down on the convenience of keeping them close at hand.
Online Storage
Uploading files to an Internet backup service or online storage space is an excellent third leg to a three-legged backup plan. As long as the storage service provided is reliable, Internet service is available at the time of backup, and a relatively small amount of data is being backed up at one time (daily backups that take three days to run don't work), online backups make a great deal of good sense in combination with other backup solutions.
DVD / CD
Burning a DVD or CD of especially important information is always a good idea. Backup media can be stored easily in other locations, and can be burned according to an automated schedule. However, automated backups to DVD or CD only work when a writeable disc is in the disk drive at the right time. Rewriteable discs can cut down on the cost and clutter of many backups, while ensuring that there's always a valid disc in the drive.
The small amount of space available on a DVD or CD compared to other backup solutions means that these media are best for small, occasional backups.
Techie Tip: ALWAYS, ALWAYS VERIFY BACKUP FILES
Just because it appears data has been successfully backed up doesn't mean it's accessible or recoverable. Every backup file, on every backup device, should always be opened and tested to make sure it works.
Anyone with a PDA, computer or other data-storing device should have a regular, comprehensive backup plan, and the technology to sustain it. Good plans combine complementary technologies to automatically save data in several different places. The following backup technologies can be coordinated to provide reliable, convenient backups - and peace of mind.
Hard Drives - Pros and Cons
Extra hard drives -- especially portable ones -- make great backup solutions for most households and small businesses. A single hard drive can store more than 400 gigabytes of data - at least 10 times the space most people use within the lifespan of the drive. Therefore, many backups of entire hard drives can be stored in one place. But hard drives are made of moving parts, which at some point or another will fail, whether due to mechanical malfunction, damage or age.
By using several smaller drives instead of one big one, data is replicated several times on separate devices to prevent data loss. This is accomplished with RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) technology, where multiple hard drives are grouped together so the computer sees them as one. RAID controllers are bought separately to manage the array. RAID software makes backing up data automatic and easy to access.
Networking computers is another way to put hard drives to good use. With small business networks or home networks, multiple computers can be backed up onto a hard drive or drives, even at the same time.
Making sure important information is stored on separate hard drives may seem like a sufficient backup system, but one lightning strike, power surge, flood or fire could wipe out all hard drives and backups at one physical location. So it is always best to combine hard drives with other backup solutions that can store data in remote places.
Flash Drives - Pros and Cons
Although they are handy for storing and transporting important files, flash drives (also known as thumb drives or jump drives) are limited in capacity and generally considered to be less robust compared to hard drives. They are intended to complement a hard drive rather than replace one.
These small, hand-held storage devices do not contain moving parts, so are less likely to suffer mechanical failure. However, they are much easier to misplace, damage or erase. In addition, regular backups require that they be connected to the computer at the right time, cutting down on the convenience of keeping them close at hand.
Online Storage
Uploading files to an Internet backup service or online storage space is an excellent third leg to a three-legged backup plan. As long as the storage service provided is reliable, Internet service is available at the time of backup, and a relatively small amount of data is being backed up at one time (daily backups that take three days to run don't work), online backups make a great deal of good sense in combination with other backup solutions.
DVD / CD
Burning a DVD or CD of especially important information is always a good idea. Backup media can be stored easily in other locations, and can be burned according to an automated schedule. However, automated backups to DVD or CD only work when a writeable disc is in the disk drive at the right time. Rewriteable discs can cut down on the cost and clutter of many backups, while ensuring that there's always a valid disc in the drive.
The small amount of space available on a DVD or CD compared to other backup solutions means that these media are best for small, occasional backups.
Techie Tip: ALWAYS, ALWAYS VERIFY BACKUP FILES
Just because it appears data has been successfully backed up doesn't mean it's accessible or recoverable. Every backup file, on every backup device, should always be opened and tested to make sure it works.
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